Sierra County Highpoint Trip Report

McKnight Mountain (10,165 ft)

Date: November 6, 2005
Author: Dave Covill
This cohp has been written up in the past rather nicely by Ken Jones et al,
but there are some subtle points to be made.
Use Kenís fine TR to get to Mimbres and to continue north from NM 152 on NM 35
to the turnoff. Note that the road you want is FR 152, odd that you were just
on highway 152. It is a bit confusing where you turn off, as there are a few
other dirt roads going right (east) from NM 152 there. Climb high up through
chaparral country to the ridge crest, reaching it about mile 4. Drop down off
of the ridge to the right (east) at mile 7.5, and stay left at a junction at
mile 8.4. At mile 14.7 hit a cattle guard, with a sign for some trail to the
right. Proceed straight on McKnight Road. At mile 16.7 observe a sign for an
unnamed trail to the right. At mile 17.0 there is a brown sign with an arrow to
the right but no names, in a clearing on the ridge. Reach the fire cabin at
mile 17.3.
I thought this would be better than starting from mile 17.0 and walking from
there, as the gain was minimal on the map, and there is a trail noted on the map.
I was unable to find the trail at all and searched intensively on the way up and down.
I would urge future visitors to park along the ridge at 17.0, and walk up
the trail from there, saving maybe 15 minutes of woods bashing each way.
The cabin is rundown and I parked here and hiked up through the trees to the
trail. Where I encountered the trail I left myself a small cairn to denote
where to turn down southwest into the woods. The trail was in decent shape
there and I have no reason to believe it would be anything less than that back
to mile 17.0.
I hiked the good trail for a mile and a half or so to the sign for McKnight Peak.
There is a small cutoff trail here leading up to the right (east). It goes up
maybe 60 feet in 0.1 mile to a rocky outcrop with nice views. It is reasonably
open terrain here and I was able to hand-level north-northwest to the other
candidate contour in Grant County. I believe that the Grant candidate hill is
higher but it can not be proven as it has considerable forestation on its summit,
as opposed to McKnight Peak. I was leveling well down into the trees though,
most likely at the base of the trees, while standing up on the outcrops of
McKnight Mountain. I would guess that if it was surveyed, the other hill would
be 5-10 feet higher.
From just north of McKnight Mountain, take the signed Powderhorn Ridge trail, FT 82.
It goes left and hugs the southwestern edge of the ridge out to the second
10,165-foot hill within Grant County. I do not advise anyone to bushwhack the
ridge crest the whole way as the forest is dense and there was moderate snow on
the ground. FT 82 can be followed to where it passes by a huge outcrop on the
left. The trail begins to descend noticeably after this. From here, bushwhack
right northward only about 0.1 mile to the high ground. It is very gentle in
there but a cairn and register was left at a place I agree with, I think by
Richard Carey. It was signed by the usual suspects.
The highway (NM 152) that leaves Mimbres and heads east to I-25 is horrid,
with curves everywhere, and speeds always < 35mph.
It took FOREVER to get to I-25, like 2 hours. Passing is difficult.
Worse than the highway near the Greenlee AZ CoHP.
I drove from here all the way to Denver, arriving in the late evening.